Gordon Brown: Difference between revisions

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'''Gordon Brown''' (born 20th February 1951) is the current [[prime minister of the United Kingdom]] and leader of the [[government of the United Kingdom|governing]] [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]. He is also a [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath]] in his native [[Scotland]], and holds a [[PhD]] in [[politics]] from the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref>Brown (1982).</ref>
'''Gordon Brown''' (born 20th February 1951) is the current [[prime minister of the United Kingdom]] and leader of the [[government of the United Kingdom|governing]] [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]. He is also a [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath]] in his native [[Scotland]], and holds a [[PhD]] in [[politics]] from the [[University of Edinburgh]].<ref>Brown (1982).</ref>


Brown succeeded his political rival [[Tony Blair]] as prime minister unopposed in June 2007;<ref>''BBC News'': '[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6243558.stm Blair resigns as prime minister].' 27th June 2007.</ref> much was made of the differences between the two men, though Brown remains a supporter of the centre-left 'New' Labour [[ideology]] in which [[socialism]] plays no part. He is said to be slightly more left-wing than Blair,<ref>''[[Channel 4]] News'': '[http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/brown+vs+blue+on+going+green/291852  Brown vs blue on going green].' 12th March 2007.</ref> and slightly cooler towards the '[[special relationship]]' between the UK and the [[United States of America|USA]].<ref>''[[Daily Telegraph]]'': '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/20/wirq220.xml Relations will be less special, Washington fears].' 21st May 2007.</ref> However, the two shared a similar outlook over the [[Iraq War]], a conflict Brown supported, and on a more practical level, he has pledged to continue his predecessor's commitment to addressing [[global warming|climate change]] and international [[terrorism]].<ref>''[[BBC]] News'': '[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6229596.stm Brown pledge to cut state control].' 22nd June 2007.</ref>
Brown succeeded his political rival [[Tony Blair]] as prime minister unopposed in June 2007;<ref>''[[BBC]] News'': '[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6245682.stm Brown is UK's new prime minister].' 27th June 2007.</ref> much was made of the differences between the two men, though Brown remains a supporter of the centre-left 'New' Labour [[ideology]] in which [[socialism]] plays no part. He is said to be slightly more left-wing than Blair,<ref>''[[Channel 4]] News'': '[http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/brown+vs+blue+on+going+green/291852  Brown vs blue on going green].' 12th March 2007.</ref> and slightly cooler towards the '[[special relationship]]' between the UK and the [[United States of America|USA]].<ref>''[[Daily Telegraph]]'': '[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/20/wirq220.xml Relations will be less special, Washington fears].' 21st May 2007.</ref> However, the two shared a similar outlook over the [[Iraq War]], a conflict Brown supported, and on a more practical level, he has pledged to continue his predecessor's commitment to addressing [[global warming|climate change]] and international [[terrorism]].<ref>''BBC News'': '[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6229596.stm Brown pledge to cut state control].' 22nd June 2007.</ref>


Prior to taking office as premier, Brown served for ten years as the UK's [[finance]] minister, the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]], holding no other office and remaining in the post for longer than any predecessor since the [[nineteenth century]]. Those ten years since 'New' Labour was first elected in 1997 were often marked by behind-the-scenes feuding between the so-called 'Brownite' and 'Blairite' camps; in one memorable instance, an anonymous briefing declared Brown "psychologically flawed."<ref>''[[BBC]] News'': '[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/252677.stm Civil war that hit New Labour project].' 11th January 1999.</ref> More recently, documents appeared in the mass [[media]] suggesting that Blair had intended to remove Brown from the [[Treasury]] and offer him the post of [[foreign affairs|foreign]] minister.<ref>''[[Independent]] on Sunday'': '[http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2701305.ece Revealed: Blair's secret plan to sack Gordon Brown].' 24th June 2007.</ref>
Prior to taking office as premier, Brown served for ten years as the UK's [[finance]] minister, the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]], holding no other office and remaining in the post for longer than any predecessor since the [[nineteenth century]]. Those ten years since 'New' Labour was first elected in 1997 were often marked by behind-the-scenes feuding between the so-called 'Brownite' and 'Blairite' camps; in one memorable instance, an anonymous briefing declared Brown "psychologically flawed."<ref>''[[BBC]] News'': '[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/252677.stm Civil war that hit New Labour project].' 11th January 1999.</ref> More recently, documents appeared in the mass [[media]] suggesting that Blair had intended to remove Brown from the [[Treasury]] and offer him the post of [[foreign affairs|foreign]] minister.<ref>''[[Independent]] on Sunday'': '[http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2701305.ece Revealed: Blair's secret plan to sack Gordon Brown].' 24th June 2007.</ref>

Revision as of 09:08, 27 June 2007

Gordon Brown (born 20th February 1951) is the current prime minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the governing Labour Party. He is also a Member of Parliament for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath in his native Scotland, and holds a PhD in politics from the University of Edinburgh.[1]

Brown succeeded his political rival Tony Blair as prime minister unopposed in June 2007;[2] much was made of the differences between the two men, though Brown remains a supporter of the centre-left 'New' Labour ideology in which socialism plays no part. He is said to be slightly more left-wing than Blair,[3] and slightly cooler towards the 'special relationship' between the UK and the USA.[4] However, the two shared a similar outlook over the Iraq War, a conflict Brown supported, and on a more practical level, he has pledged to continue his predecessor's commitment to addressing climate change and international terrorism.[5]

Prior to taking office as premier, Brown served for ten years as the UK's finance minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, holding no other office and remaining in the post for longer than any predecessor since the nineteenth century. Those ten years since 'New' Labour was first elected in 1997 were often marked by behind-the-scenes feuding between the so-called 'Brownite' and 'Blairite' camps; in one memorable instance, an anonymous briefing declared Brown "psychologically flawed."[6] More recently, documents appeared in the mass media suggesting that Blair had intended to remove Brown from the Treasury and offer him the post of foreign minister.[7]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Brown (1982).
  2. ↑ BBC News: 'Brown is UK's new prime minister.' 27th June 2007.
  3. ↑ Channel 4 News: 'Brown vs blue on going green.' 12th March 2007.
  4. ↑ Daily Telegraph: 'Relations will be less special, Washington fears.' 21st May 2007.
  5. ↑ BBC News: 'Brown pledge to cut state control.' 22nd June 2007.
  6. ↑ BBC News: 'Civil war that hit New Labour project.' 11th January 1999.
  7. ↑ Independent on Sunday: 'Revealed: Blair's secret plan to sack Gordon Brown.' 24th June 2007.

References

External links

See also

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